Lenovo IdeaTab S2110 Tablet Review

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Introduction and Specifications

Although Nvidia's Tegra 3 has been taking tablets and smartphones by storm, there are other noteworthy mobile processors out there, including Qualcomm's dual-core, 1.5GHz 8060A. The Snapdragon S4 SoC appears in the Lenovo IdeaTab S2110, which is a 10.1-inch tablet that runs Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0. That's not a bad setup for a tablet, particularly if you're shopping on a tighter budget.

Lenovo took a different approach with the IdeaTab S2110’s display than we usually see. Whereas other tablet makers are gunning for the highest resolution displays, Lenovo opted for a 10.1-inch screen with 1280 x 800 resolution and a 16:10 ratio. That means 1080p is out of the question, but the screen has upsides to consider, including 420-nit brightness built in IPS technology with 178-degree viewing angles. While testing the IdeaTab S2110, we found viewing angles to be as excellent and Lenovo claims: you can show a video to a small group without anyone feeling cramped. The screen responded well to our pinches, swipes, and taps as well.

Without Keyboard Dock: Up To 10 Hours Video Playback
With Keyboard Dock: Up To 20 Hours Video Playback/30 Days Standby

The tablet also has 1GB of RAM and 16GB or 32GB of internal data storage. For connectivity, the S2110 has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and A-GPS. Also, optional 3G connectivity is supported, though it was not present in the model we tested.

On the front, you have a 1.3-megapixel camera that supports video recording in 720p. The rear camera is the more serious one, with 5MP resolution, autofocus, an ambient light sensor, and an LED flash.

As hip as we tablet-toters are, many of us are finding that we’re not too cool for keyboards. You can get an awful lot of emailing done with the onscreen keys, but when it’s time to really write, only a true keyboard will do. For tablet makers, the challenge is to provide a functional, sturdy keyboard without killing the tablet’s style. The Lenovo IdeaTab S2110’s Keyboard Dock scores a big win for function and makes the tablet only a little less cool.

As with most tablets, the detachable keyboard is optional for the IdeaTab S2110. You can pick up the IdeaTab S2110 for $399 (as configured in the model we tested), or buy the IdeaTab and Keyboard Dock for $499. That price tag is in line with pricing from Lenovo’s competition.

The tablet has a micro-USB port, which connects it to your computer or to the Keyboard Dock, as well as a micro-HDMI port for 1080p playback on your HDTV. There’s also a slot for a SIM card. The Keyboard Dock adds a couple USB 2.0 ports and, importantly, an SD card reader. Another Dock bonus is the built-in battery, which extends the IdeaTab S2110’s overall battery life for up to 20 hours of up time claimed, even constantly playing back 720p video content.